Car-brake



(No Model.)

' J. L. POALK.

GAR-BRAKE. No. 259,773. Patented June 20,1882. 139.1.

WITNESSES:

N. PETERS. PholwLhhogrnplwr. Walhingion. D. C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. LANE POALK, OF PHILADELPHIA, TENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,773, dated June 20, 1882; Application filed April 22, 1882. (No modelj 1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. LANE POALK, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gar-Brakes, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which-' Figures 1 and 2 are views of opposite sides of the car-brake embodying my invention. Figs. 3 and .4 are vertical sections in line as at, showing the brake-shoe in different positions.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of a car-brakebaving a rotary shoe, which is loosely hung on its bearing and positively forced against the rail, whereby the shoe is held in contact with the rail with a wedging effect, and thereby powerfully operated. v

It also consists of means for positively throwing oil the brake and raising the shoe clear of v the rail.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the brake-shoe, the same being of the form of a roller constructed of metal mounted on an axis or hearing, B, which extends horizontally and transversely, so that the tread of the roller is parallel with the longitudinal direction or the rail. The axis or hearing B is properly fixed to the truck of the car, and so disposed that the roller overhangs the rail, and the opening in the roller, through which the axle or bearing is passed, is of much greater diameter than the thickness of said bearin g, wherea by the roller has vertical play on the bearing, and is thereby adapted to be lowered on the rail and raised therefrom. 7

To a hanger, a, secured to the truck is pivoted an upwardly-projecting elbowJever, G, the outer limb of which has a cross-bar, C, so

that it overhangs the roller or shoe A, and is extends horizontally and transversely, andhas connected to its outer end a pivoted arm, H, which, pivoted to the hanger a, is adapted to press against the outer side of the shoe A and force the latter inward on its bearings, the shoe having a certain amount of sliding motion on the bearings, which are sustained on hangers b b, which are either downward extensions of the hangers a or separate pieces secured to the truck. The upper inner face of the hanger b is inclined, as at J, and the lower end of the hanger b is formed with a foot, J, which extends outwardly under the shoe, and has its upper face beveled, as at c, the edges of the tread of the shoe being beveled to accord with the faces J c of the hangers I) b; but the roller may be spheroidal, and said faces J c of corresponding rounded form, without departing from my invention.

When the brakes are to be applied the lever F is operated, thus moving the arm D against the lever O. This lowers the shoe, and also causes it to slide toward the hanger b, and presses it against the inclined face J thereof, whereby by the combined action, of the crossbar and said inclined face J on opposite edges .of the shoe the latter is forced downwardly against the rail or track, where, owing to the loose connection of the shoe and its bearing B, and the pressure of the face J and cross bar 0, the shoe acts with somewhat of a wedging effect, due to the eccentric position of the shoe with relation to its bearing, the resistance of the. rail, and the holding power of the face J and cross-bar of the lever 0, (see Fig. 3,) so that the brake acts powerfully and soon stops the train. By operating the lever F in reversed order the arm D bears against the limb 0, thus causing the, lever O to raise the cross-bar Gfrom the shoe, and the arm H is forced against the outer side of the shoe, thus moving the latter against the foot J and causing it to ride up the same, whereby the the lever F is again manipulated, when the arm H leaves the shoe and the bar depresses it, the subsequent action being similar to that previously stated.

5 Having thus described m y invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The roller A, in combination with its fixed bearing 13, said roller being movable verti- IO cally on said bearing, for the purpose setforth. 2. A vertically and laterally movable roller,

in combination with a depressing and shiftin g lever and a fixed attachment of a car-truck, said truck and lever combining to wedge said roller against the rail of a track when said roller has been shifted into the proper position, as set forth.

3. The brake-shoe roller, in combination with the inclined face J of the hanger b, the lever O, and operating mechanism of said lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The brake-shoe, in combination with elevating mechanism consisting of an inclined foot and a lever or arm which forces the shoe on and up said foot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

J. LANE POALK. Witnesses: JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, A. P. GRANT. 

